1997 Ford Mustang Cobra

Because the Cobra saw major changes in 1996, no changes were made for the 1997 model year, and the car was still considered at the top of its performance game. The new aggressive styling was a big hit in 1996 and was kept for the 1997 model year. The Cobra was becoming more and more mainstream and the use of Cobra on the rear end of the vehicle and other unique items on the Cobra proved a useful marketing tool for the vehicle. The Cobra was still considered the highest performing Mustang, and for good reason. Providing a massive 305 horsepower, there wasn't an un-modified Mustang on the market that would come close to this muscle car. Only offered in a T-45 manual transmission, the car appealed to many race and muscle car lovers as well as your average Joe that wanted a car that offered space, comfort, and performance. For the first time in a long time people were really excited to see what a Mustang could do on the track, and the Cobra surprised many when it performed well on both the track and on the road. Only the Cobra model Mustang had the new parallel-flow air conditioning condenser.

The 13-inch front and 11-inch back brakes that were upgraded in the 1996 model proved to be a grand upgrade for most drivers. Now, not only could the Cobra really take off, it could also stop on a dime. The distinct rims that were polished silver and gray were quite popular and looked great when the car was moving as well as when it was parked. Little features like the raised hood, the specialized rims, and the Cobra side plates, really distinguished the Cobra for the 1997 model year, though very few changes were made.